Sunday, November 14, 2010

Routeburn wanderings

I was invited to a 60 th birthday party for work colleague Greg at Kinloch on Sat. evening, and festivities were to begin earlier in the day at the nearby Routeburn Flat's hut.

Not having wandered the Routeburn track since about 1969 I thought I'd make a day of it and see if I could get to Lake Harris and return for nibbles at the hut by 3.30 pm.

Routeburn Flats en-route to Routeburn Falls. Looking up the North Branch of the Routeburn...

The outlet to Lake Harris. Apparently only two weeks ago the lake was frozen over...

Travellers and packs are ferried past a nasty section of the track that still holds winter avalanche debris. It's $75 deal at 12.30 pm each day there is a need, and walkers are advised before departing that it's required. It only takes several minutes, and when the snow has melted in a couple of weeks it'll no longer be necessary...

Lake Harris and outlet. Weather deteriorating too, so I scurried off promptly, after watching the flying productions...

Back by Routeburn Falls hut I spent sometime asking myself what the dynamic waterfalls were sort of telling me, and finally settled on the fact that the vegetation behind the water and this rock comprised a story...

Mattresses at Routeburn Falls hut admiring the view...

Party time at Routeburn Flats hut...

The regulatory swing bridge shot on the return, [with the odd raindrop becoming a worry]...

Yes good on my friend Greg for having such a good birthday idea for himself. He said that was where he wanted us to be to celebrate. Oddly though no woman folk walked in, and it was only a bit over an hour.